Team Rally Raid Canada > Rally Racer Don Hatton

The stockings have all been hung by the chimney with care, but most of Don Hatton’s holiday planning is taking a back seat to preparations happening on a wider scale.

The Duncan rally racer is leaving the valley Boxing Day for another marathon excursion from Victoria to Vancouver to Toronto and on to Buenos Aires, Argentina for the Dakar Rally that starts Jan. 1.

Loads of work has already been done and much more is yet to be completed before Hatton hits the start line.

“The bike is now hopefully in Argentina,’’ said Hatton, 51. “We don’t know till we get there.’’

That’s a bit of a scary proposition in itself, but Hatton has faith all the necessary arrangements were successful in transporting his custom-made rally bike to the site. He sent it from Vancouver to England and had it shipped to France for loading onto a freighter.

“The people that run the Dakar actually charter a freighter for all the competitors that are in Europe,’’ said Hatton.

If his bike doesn’t arrive, a bunch of other motorcyclists and car rally riders will be in the same boat.

The bike will arrive at a dock 150 kilometres outside of Buenos Aires. Hatton’s first order of business when he arrives is to pick it up.

All going well, he’ll then proceed to scrutineering on Dec. 29.

On the formal side, the Canadian Ambassador to Argentina has made plans to have lunch with Hatton and wife Natalie upon their arrival.

“He tried to catch up to us last year, but we didn’t connect,’’ said Hatton.

Friends John and Maxine Yeoman are also going to be there to see the race first-hand.

Hatton’s team is now known as Rally Raid Canada. He was the lone Canadian last year, but there are five more this year basically following his lead.

Hatton is fully confident in his ability to complete the Dakar and the claim to fame that will bring. “I’ll actually be the oldest competitor to finish,’’ he said.

Original story posted here.